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wage and hour laws as defined in R.S.34:11-57, then the commissioner shall initiate a wage claim on behalf of the employee pursuant to R.S.34:11-58.

g. Upon the conviction of an employer under subsection a. of section 10 of P.L.1999, c.90 (C.2C:40A-2), section 13 of P.L.2019, c.212 (C.34:11-58.6), subsection a. of section 10 of P.L.1965, c.173 (C.34:11-4.10), subsection a. of section 25 of P.L.1966, c.113 (C.34:11-56a24), or N.J.S.2C:20-2 if the property stolen consists of compensation the employer failed to provide to an employee under any State wage and hour law as defined in R.S.34:11-57, the prosecutor or the court shall notify the commissioner of the employer's conviction.

h. In the alternative to proceedings under the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) in accordance with the provisions of subsection b. of this section, and in addition to any other actions taken in the enforcement of the laws violated by any employer, the commissioner shall have the authority, to be exercised in the commissioner's sole discretion, to bring enforcement actions for any violation of any State wage, benefit and tax law, including but not limited to a violation of R.S.34:15-79, or a failure to meet obligations required by R.S.43:21-7 or R.S.43:21-14, or for a violation of any provision of P.L.1940, c.153 (C.34:2-21.1 et seq.) or P.L.1989, c.293 (C.34:15C-1 et al.), in the Office of Administrative Law or in the Superior Court for the county in which the violation occurred. When the commissioner, including any of the commissioner's authorized representatives in the Office of the Attorney General, brings an action in the Office of Administrative Law or Superior Court which seeks relief on behalf of any individual for any of the above violations, communications between members of the Attorney General's office and that individual shall be privileged as would be a communication between an attorney and a client.

i. In any enforcement action brought under subsection h. of this section, the commissioner, including any of the commissioner's authorized representatives in the Office of the Attorney General, may initiate the action by making, signing, and filing a verified complaint against the employer. If the action is brought by the commissioner in Superior Court, a jury trial may be requested upon the application of any party. If the commissioner is a prevailing plaintiff in the action, any and all remedies available by law shall be available on behalf of any named or unnamed victims as if the claims were brought directly by the victims. In addition to any remedies sought on behalf of the named or unnamed victims, the commissioner shall be entitled to seek any fines, penalties or administrative assessments authorized by law, including but not limited to penalties for misclassification set forth in section 1 of P.L.2019, c.373 (C.34:1A-1.18). If the suit seeks relief for one or more unnamed members of a class, the commissioner shall have the discretion to settle the suit on the terms the commissioner deems appropriate. If the commissioner is a prevailing plaintiff, the court shall award reasonable attorney's fees and litigation and investigation costs.

j. At any time after the filing of any verified complaint under subsection i. of this section, or whenever it appears to the commissioner that an employer has engaged in, is engaging in, or is about to engage in, any violation of a State wage, benefit or tax law, including a violation of R.S.34:15-79 or any failure to meet obligations required by R.S.43:21-7 or R.S.43:21-14, or has